Cable-terminal structure.



S. P. GRACE. CABLE TERMINAL STRUCTURE. APPLIUATION FILED JAN.15, 190e.

1 ,045,697, l Patented Nov. 26, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

s. P. GRACE. CABLE TERMINAL STRUCTURE. APPLIOATIQN FILED JA N.`15,'1908`.

` Patented Nov. 26, F912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' vide a simple structure which will render UNITED STA'IHILTENT OFFICE.

SERGIUS GRACE, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, yi.ASSIGNOR kTO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION F ILLINOIS.

CABLE-TERMINAL STRUCTURE. i

Application led January 15, 1908.

ing is a- Jfull, clear, concise, and exact de-\ scription. Y

My invention relates to a cable terminal structure especially adapted for use in con-- neet-ion with underground cables. When the ordinary terminal is mounted in a manhole, as the case in underground construction, it has heretofore been customary to make the terminal box Water-tight, as, for example, by wiped joints, owing to the fact that manholes may become filled with Water and the apparatus located therein submerged. Such water-tight box is objectionable for the reason that access 'to the terminal is thereby rendered Very difiicult.

'lhe objection oi' myinventionis to pro-A such precautions unnecessary and in which the terminals are rea illy accessible.-

My invention consists in providing a suitably supported air bell cover for an ordinary terminal structure, the Whole apparatus being suitably mounted in the manhole. The terminals are thus protected from. Water, owing .to the fact that the air in the bell will not allow the Water to rise .tar enough on the inside of the bell to reach the terminals, even though the apparatus be completely submerged in the Water.

My inventionmay be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure is afrent elevation of a terminal boa. provided with an air bell cover, such 'how-n l vertical section; F ig. al transverse section; tional views on lines Fig. l.

reference are used to same Wherever they are The terminal box may be of the ordinary construction, that shown in the drawing being similar to that disclosed in letters patent detailed description thereof is unnecessary.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1912.

seria-i No. 410,940.

It will be noted, however, that the usual hinged door or cover for the" front of the boxis dispensed with.

Secured to the side Walls 2 of the manhole in any suitable manner is a bracket` 3, having a horizontal .shelf 4; which is upturned at its. ends to form a vertical extension 5. The shelf 4 and extension '5 are provided With outwardly projecting side flanges 6, 6, the resulting channel-shape of the parts conducing to their strength and also forming parts Awhich greatly assist in rmly supporting the terminal box on the bracket. The bottom of the box 1 at its rear edge rests upon the upper end oi the extension 5. The rearl portion of said box is also provided, upon its opposite sides with doWn- Wardly extending flanges 7, 7 which it- With..- in said channel and are secured to the `Wings 6, 6 by bolts 8, 8 thus securely mounting the terminal box on the bracket.

The terminal box is provided With a castiron cover 9 which has airtight top and sides and which is open at the bottom. Such a cover may be readily placed over or removed` from the terminal box and When in position bis Asupportedat its bottom edge yupon the shelf 4 of the bracket. In case the manhole becomes filled with Water, the cover 9 acts as an air bell, the pressure of the air inclosed bythe cover preventing the water from rising su'iciently high in the interior of the cover to reach the cable terminals.

The cover 9 shown in the drawings is especially adapted for use with the terminal box of the patent hereinbefore mentioned. It will be apparent that the Wires which are to connect with the terminal posts located as usual on the face of the board, Will be passed up through thebottor' of the cover .9 and will then be led up at the back of the box l at each side thereof through the holes l0. -It will be further apparent that comparatively few Wires will extend to the top of the box the number gradually decreasing upward. Hence the space actually required at the back ofthe terminal box inclosed by the cover v9 becomes gradually less toward the top. To provide for this, I preferably make the cover 9 with outwardly Haring portions 1l at the rear upon each side of the central portion l2. This in effect-produces upon the 'exterior of the cover a central channel which gradually decreases in depth toward the top of the cover. Upon the iii-'1x10 l terior are thus provided two chambers 13, 13', t ported upon said horizontal shelf and torming a cover l'or said box.

lwhich gradually increasev in cross-sectional area toward the bottom.

Supported in a suitable manner on the bracket El and located just within the mouth of the cover t) a wire retaining band l-t adapted to surround the wires which lead to the terminals and to prevent their spreading. By this provision of the band 19t the cover 9 may readily be placed in position and removed without interfering wit-h the wires.

Ity will be noted that vthe bracket` 3 is peculiarly designed to support the terminal box and cover 9 in such relative positions thatI said cover extends a considerable distance below the bottom of said box. Thus in case water in the manhole should rise so high as to completely submerge the apparatus and hence exert pressure sutlicient to considerably compress the air within the cover orbell 9, t-he water nevertheless will not rise high enough within the air bell to reach the terminals.

I claim 1. A cable terminal comprising a terminal box, a brackety connected to said box and adapted to support'the same trom below and from the wall to which the bracket is secured, and an air-bell cover supported by said bracket adapted to cover said box and extend below thc bottom thereof.

Q. The combination with a bracket having a horizontal shelf provided with a vertical extension, of a terminal box mounted upon the end of said extension, and anair-bell supported upon said horizontal shelf and forming a cover for said box.

3. The combination with a bracket having a horizontal shelf provided with a vertical extension, said extension -being provided with wings extending at right angles tliercto, of a terminal box seated upon the end ot` said extension, said box being provided with flanges extending downwardly from the bottom thereof, means for securing said flanges to said wings, and an air-bell sup- `Copies of this patent may be obtained for l l l l t l l l l l l l 4. rthe combination with a bracket having` a horizontal shelf provided with a vertical extension, said extension being provided with u ings extending at right angles thereto, o't` a. terminal box seated upon the cud ot' said extension, said box being provided with anges extending downwardly Jfrom the 4bottomthereo'f into a channel toi-med be tween said wings, bolts for securing 4,said flanges to said wings, and a east-iron cover supported upon said horizontal shelt, said cover having airtightJ sides and top and an open bottom.

5. T he combination with a bracket having a horizontal shelf provided with a vertical extension. of a terminal box mounted upon the end ot said extension, and an air-bell supported upon said horizontal shelt and forming a cover for said box the rear portion of said cover being provided on each Side of its central portion with an interior channel which tapers from the bottom of the cover toward the top thereof. f

,6. The combination with a bracket ha ving a horizontal shelf provided with a vertical extension, said extension being provided with wings extending at right angles thereto, ot a terminal box seated upon thel end ot said extension, said box being provided with tianges extending 'downwardly from the bottom'thereof into a channel formed between said wings, bolts for securing said flanges to said wings, a cast iron cover supported upon said horizontal shelf, said cover having airtight sides and top and an open bottom. and a wire retaining band mounted upon said bracket within the opening of said cover. In witness wl'iereot,I, hereunto subscribe my name this 10th day of January A. D.. 1908.

SERGUS P. GRACE.

Witnesses J. F. MCKRNNA, E. J. MCKENNA.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

